Whitewashing Wall Paneling with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

My, my.  How fast time slips by.  It has been some time since my last post.

I have shared before that my sister Betty and I are in the process of remodeling an old family carpet store into our very own vintage furniture and home decor shop. We are so excited but it is such a slow go since we both hold down jobs and have family obligations.  But we are making some progress.

We are finally beginning work on the inside (I will post some pictures of our completed cottage/country porch soon).  My brother-in-law has been patching multiple holes in the dry wall (where previous hangers for carpet samples were mounted) and is ready to paint the half of the building he is currently working on.  Why just half of the building you may ask?  Because we have our vintage junk stored in the other half! Our game plan is to do one side and then flip and do the other.

My post-holiday project today was to tackle the wood paneling on the front side of our counter.  I had this vision of a whitewashed effect.  You know, like you see in beach cottages.  I did a little (several hours) research on Pinterest (are you surprised?) on whitewashing paneling and quite frankly they all were very labor intense.  In addition to being a great procrastinator, I am not so crazy about doing multiple prepping steps. That's when I got the idea to try my Annie Sloan Chalk Paint!  It is famous for no prep work and I had about 1/3 can of Old White left. So I decided to give it a try.

Please, please do not look at the clutter.

This paneling is the common wood paneling board that dates to the 1980's.  Slick and shiny.

I mixed my Chalk Paint 50/50 with water and brushed it on the paneling. I was not sure if it would adhere since I was not doing any prep work at all. I then wiped off the excess paint gently with an old T-shirt.

My 50/50 Annie Sloan wash

Miracles of miracles, it adhered perfectly!  However, one coat just didn't look right.

Annie Sloan wash on left, wiped off on right

I decided to try a second coat using the same technique.  By now I had it down to a process and had learned how much pressure to apply while wiping off the paint.  With coat number two, it was looking much closer to what I had envisioned.

After two coats...I'm liking this!

The thing about Chalk Paint is it looks flat and, well, chalky. It has a rough, chalky texture as well.

Great coverage...but flat and chalky.

So I decided to use some of my Annie Sloan Clear Wax.  It tones down the chalky look and always gives a nice finish to my painted furniture pieces.  So why not on a wall?

OK...much better detail and the finish is smoother.

After doing the first section I knew this was the look I was going for.

Looking better!

It now looks very cottage-like and once we get the baseboards and walls painted it will make the kind of statement I hoped for.  We still have a great deal of work to do but I love seeing the vision unfold!

All in all...not a bad day's work!

As I was whitewashing and waxing the wall I could not help but think of Tom Sawyer!  I kept waiting for someone to come along and want to have some fun too...but alas....no one came!

Until next time,
Donna

Unforgettable...

Yesterday I was browsing through Pinterest looking for old photos to put on homemade labels, etc. and came upon this photograph.  I saved it for future use but it has haunted me ever since.  I don't recall who pinned it, but I believe it is from the Great Depression era.

I think the thing that haunts me the most is the fact that I hunt for old feedsacks and grain sacks as vintage treasures.  To this poor woman it was clothing!  I think if we pulled up her raggedy sweater, we would see an open-ended sack tied to her waist by a cord (much as the children's clothes are held together).

I know that many farm wives made dresses, aprons, tablecloths and quilts from floral print feedsacks.  But this is one of the old white muslin, brand stamped sacks--the kind what was usually made into dish towels and cleaning rags.  This photo embodied desperation personified.  It also speaks towards her ingenuity to make the most of what she had.  My heart breaks for this young mother even now, after all these years. 

I praise the Lord Jesus for the many blessings He has bestowed upon me.  I may not have designer clothes, but mine are store bought and in reasonably good shape.  I have shoes and I have food to eat (too much at times).  I am truly thankful.

Just wanted to share this photo with you.  

Donna    

Starting A Vintage Furniture Business...At My Age?

I was shocked to see that it has been some time since my last blog post.  I have been a first rate blogging procrastinator.  But I have found new motivation!  The season has changed, fall has arrived, and I have an announcement to make.  

My sister, Betty, and I have decided to take the plunge and open our own vintage furniture shop!   I am 63 years old and getting close to retirement and she is in her late 50’s!  What are we thinking?  Are we completely bonkers?  Well, maybe...but we have thought about this for some time now.

I decided I have at least one more career adventure in me.  Betty and I love the thrill of the hunt for the vintage pieces we put into out antique mall booths.  We love to find forlorn and forgotten vintage furniture pieces and paint and refurbish them into treasures someone would love to have in their home.  It is more than a hobby with us, it is a passion.  And if you look at our respective homes, it might resemble some sort of vintage furniture hoarding disorder has smitten both of us. We can only fit so much stuff in our mall booths and we are thinking bigger than that.  We began to dream….

Then we began develop a plan.  We began to believe that starting small (even for a small business) and starting on a proverbial shoestring was something we could accomplish.  Fortunately, we have a small building next to my home that served as a family carpet business for many years.  It has not been in service for some time as a business but we have been using the front portion as a storage facility for our vintage finds.  My brother-in-law is using the back portion as a garage to store his motor cycle and work on his cars.  

Talk about low overhead!  No rent!  Just insurance and utilities. With some much needed TLC, we just might make this place into a quaint, little shop!  We had the vision!  Now, it was time to take the plunge. We decided to invest in a new metal roof (already on before I thought to take the photos) and add a country porch to the front to go with our cottage theme.  We are in the process of getting the porch built at this time.

See that RV storage shed?  It will be perfect for furniture sales in the summer months.  That country porch will make a great display area for several of our primitive, outdoor pieces.  My wonderful brother-in-law is a great carpenter which is another blessing to us.

Once we get the outside finished, we plan on spending the winter months remodeling the inside.  I plan on doing a series of blog posts on our progress not only in remodeling but also our experiences in setting up our business.  If you are thinking of starting your own shop, our successes and mistakes (they will come, I am most sure) might provide some inspiration for you.

Until next time,

Donna

Jars of Clay

Always remember the SOURCE.

Blessings,
Donna

Going to My Favorite Country Auction

My sister Betty and I began our weekend Friday night, by going to our favorite country auction, Union Depot Auction in rural Carter County, KY.  We attend this particular auction often and I always find a treasure or two for my booth and sometimes for myself.  This weekend was a very special auction and consisted mostly of elusive and very difficult (at least for me) to find primitive cupboards.  It was an unusually good auction...like the ones you see on movies!

Last week, I looked at their AuctionZip site often and dreamed of the pieces I would love to have if the price was right.  I was so excited but I am also a pragmatic person.  I know I have to buy at a reasonable price so that I can resell with enough profit to pay for my rent and the 10% mall commission.  Bottom line….none of these awesome cabinets went home with me or my sister!  Drat it!  They just went for too much money.  I just could not sell them at those prices.  I thought I would share a few "wish it could have been so" photos (from my phone, sorry for the quality) with you.  

The star piece of the night--sold for $600 and in another part of the country could sell for twice that amount. . .

This old cabinet had covered flour and meal bins inside the drawers.  There was a lot of great crocks  too!

One of three 12-tin pie safes that were available that evening. . .

Nice flat wall cabinet. . . 

Look at all that honest  to goodness chippy paint textures. . .

This apothecary cabinet was in tremendous condition. . . 

This dry sink had  copper lined insert in the top and plank backing. . .yummy!  

See what I mean....all of this awesomeness in one place and none of it is MINE!!!   I also loved this old chest of drawers....do I need to say it?  It is not mine either!

Look at the details in this piece.  It was in excellent condition.  She sold for $475.

Oh..well.  Maybe next time...a woman can dream, can't she?

Donna

The Faith of a Little Child--The Way

Having a living, personal relationship with Jesus is not hard.  We just have to have faith and believe Him....not just believe in Him.  It is so easy, a little child can do it!

Wishing you a wonderful week,
Donna

The Way

Early Christian followers were initially called The Way.  I was thinking about this today while looking through several inspirational quotes on Pinterest.  I decided that since I am in the early stages of my blog, I would like to begin a regular Sunday post using this theme of The Way. Jesus came to show us the way, all we need to do is believe Him, follow Him and obey Him.  Sounds demanding, but the more you submit to Him, the more joy, peace and assurance He gives you.  He truly is the way, the only way. 

Have a blessed week!
Donna

I Have a Serious Case of Procrastination

“It’s the job that’s never started that takes the longest to finish.”  J.R.R. Tolkien

It is Sunday evening and my weekend is pretty much gone.  I sit and look about me and see so many furniture rehab projects I wanted to get done.  But there are so many of them!  I can’t get any of them finished in one short weekend (along with my other usual chores and church).  So, I’ll wait until I have a couple of good days off from work in a row.  In the meantime, I think I'll pull up some of my favorite blogs and Pinterest and get some inspiration, some ideas of things to do in the future (you know, when I have those consecutive days off).  I so enjoy spending time looking at all the wonderful creative sites, but other than burning time, it ultimately adds to my stress and quilt for not getting things done.  How do those industrious ladies get it all done and I can’t?

This got me to thinking about procrastination.  I have a serious case of it.  You might call it debilitating, project speaking.  The more projects I accrue (I just can't pass up a great deal), the more I don’t get done because, hey, I can’t finish it in a day!  I decided to look procrastination up on the internet.  Of course, I had to go to Pinterest for some cute pics, didn’t I?

Procrastination is defined by Miriam-Webster as “to put off intentionally and habitually…something that should be done.”   I found a few academic psychology sites that shared the following reasons why procrastinators procrastinate:

·        Fear of failure—can’t fail if you never do or complete the task.

·        Perfectionism—the need to do everything perfectly.  When there is little time to do the task and you can’t do a quality job, don’t do it at all.

·        Fear of success—don’t want to draw attention to oneself or you have the fear of not being able to maintain success (there’s that fear of failure again).

·        Rebellion—someone wants you to do something and you are determined not to do it as an act of resistance.

·        Being too tired—task takes too long, you’re tired and don’t have the energy to get it done…so put it off to another day.

I ruminated (I like that word) on these five main reasons for procrastination and recognized myself in a couple of them for sure.  I am a perfectionist, I want to do any project I undertake to the best of my ability and if I can’t produce to my high expectation, I tend to put it off until I can.  This explains why I am surrounded by several furniture rehab projects that I want to paint and they just don’t get started much less completed.  I am also the “too tired” soul—for real, I often put in long weeks at my clinic.  Why do the furniture projects in the first place, you may ask?  I really do enjoy them, they fulfill my creative desires.  I just want it to be perfectly done, though.

Once I made this self-discovery, what to do?  The experts suggest the following “cure” for procrastination:

•  First, recognize why you procrastinate, acknowledge your fears, and determine to get the task done in spite of it.
• Break projects up into small “mini jobs” that can be tackled in reasonable time frames.
• Plan time each day to complete at least one mini-job.  Even if it is at 10 minute increments.
• Use to-do lists and prioritize, highest first—not easiest first.

So….after this self-discovery, my plan is to put these “cure” suggestions into action.  I plan on starting a “Procrastination Journal” and list my pending projects in priority order, then break each one into mini-jobs that are achievable in the time I can allot each day.  It will be like taking medication for any other illness, something you have to do daily to get and keep healthy. 

It is late now and I want to watch Downton Abbey so I will begin tomorrow…after all as Scarlett O’Hara said in Gone with the Wind, “I’ll think about that tomorrow.”  Just joking…I hope!  I will give you a mini-job report periodically to hold myself accountable.  If I don’t, get after me!

  

Sweet Tea. . .Kentucky Style

     It is often said that sweet tea is the "house wine" of the South.  It is an appropriate beverage for any occasion and goes with most entrees, desserts and snacks.  When guests arrive it is customary to offer them a glass of iced sweet tea (unless they have "sugar diabetes").  

     There are many ways to prepare sweet tea.  As I was sitting here sipping on some iced sweet tea, I thought I would share my method with you.  

1. I have this big gallon size Rubbermaid pitcher that has a lid.  It is great for storing the tea in the fridge.  I put 1 1/2 to 2 cups of white cane sugar in the empty pitcher. 
2. I have a stainless steel 2 quart cooker that I always use.  I fill it 3/4 full of hot water and place it on the stove with medium heat.  I bring it to a full boil and then place 4 family size tea bags or 12 regular size bags into the water, place the lid on the pot and turn off the flame. (Note: over time and many gallons of tea, your pot will develop dark staining).
3. Let steep for at least 20 minutes, the longer the better.  I have let it steep up to one hour.  
4. Pour the hot tea into the pitcher of sugar and stir with a long wooden spoon until the sugar is dissolved.
5. I then run cold water over the tea bags in the pot and add that to the pitcher, repeat until your pitcher is full.  Toss the bags, they have done their duty.   
6. Place lots of ice in a tall glass (or pint Mason jar for true Southern joy), pour in the tea, find a comfy chair (preferably on a porch) and enjoy.  Be sure to keep the pitcher of tea refrigerated.
7. Some people add 1/8 teaspoon of soda to their tea to prevent cloudiness but mine never sits around long enough for this to occur.  

      Ideal tea sipping location!

  

Blue legs in Kentucky. . .

     Sister Betty and I went to our favorite country auction the last Friday of 2012 and I bought a pair of solid oak accent tables.  They were not vintage by any means, but I liked those gorgeous legs.  When it comes to tables, I am a leg admirer!

     I neglected to take any before pictures.  Drat it! 

     I worked on them New Year’s weekend, so they are officially my first project of 2013.  I painted the legs and bottom frame with Annie Sloan duck egg blue (my favorite color), used walnut stain for glaze and waxed with Annie Sloan clear wax.  I decided to leave the tops natural oak.  A good waxing and the tops were good to go.  

     I painted the shiny brass hardware duck egg blue as well--did I mention it is my favorite color?  I distressed some of the paint off in places to give a worn, shabby appearance.  Lastly, I applied a coat of rub on poly and once dry, I gave it a good buffing. 

    I worried some when I brushed on the walnut stain--well actually, I worried a lot! The stain absorbed into the naturally rough areas in the wood and soaked up quickly.  I thought I would have to paint the whole thing again but by the time I finished, the glazing grew on me and I liked it!

    
     Look at those curvy blue legs!

     

     I took the set to my booth at Antiques-N-Uniques in Grayson, Kentucky yesterday.  From ordinary to shabby chic, they now have an individual air of distinction.  They are just waiting on a new home.   

Starting the New Year with my first blog

     I no longer make New Year’s resolutions because my track record in keeping them is deplorable.  So rather than feeling like a failure, once again, I stopped making them some years ago. 

     However, I do think the beginning of a new year offers all sorts of possibilities for the upcoming 12 months.  We just have to look for the opportunities and go for them with gusto. 

     For 2013 I want to write a blog, do more junking and antiquing with my sister Betty, repurpose and paint more old furniture (especially that stash I already have), get a larger booth at the antique mall (to hold all my newly painted furniture), work my Etsy shop more aggressively, and. . .

 

     Wait a minute!  These really aren't resolutions.  They are goals, aren't they?  They ARE not resolutions!  I don’t do resolutions!