Something painted just for us

(You've all heard the shoemaker's story about his kids having the worst shoes? It's like that for everything in life: we get so busy with our work that when it comes to doing the same type of work for ourselves, we don't have the time, the energy or the desire.

I bought a bench at a charity auction last year. We needed something to sit on to put our shoes or boots on in the entrance way. This one was just right for the space. I couldn't wait to paint it, and I knew just how I wanted it to look.

But there it sat for months. Every time I saw it, I would cringe, because it was a reminder of one more thing that needed to be done, when there just isn't enough time in a day, when I was putting all my energy in painting pieces to sell.

I finally said enough was enough and tackled it a few weeks ago.

The White Pear Tree

(Sorry, I don't have a before. I thought I did, but I have so much furniture I lose track, lol!)

I wanted the French cottage look, so I did two coats of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, followed by a wash of watered down Old White, which gives the piece a more greige feel overall. Love it! 

The White Pear Tree

The White Pear Tree

 The bench was just a little too plain for me, so I added these lovely wood appliques:

The White Pear Tree

 I painted them Old White for contrast, with clear and dark waxes.

The White Pear Tree

The White Pear Tree

The pillow is from RuPiper Designs on Etsy. I absolutely love their stuff!

The White Pear Tree

The White Pear Tree

The White Pear Tree

The White Pear Tree

The White Pear Tree

I'm so happy with the outcome! And proud that I finally painted something just for us.

Wishing you all a Happy Easter!



Nicole
xx

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Linking up to:

Peppler Night Tables

Happy Tuesday! Halloween is a distant memory, November is well on its way and here the stores have all changed over to their Christmas decors. Crazy. I even saw a few snowflakes yesterday. Gasp!!

Today I'm posting about a pair of night tables I found at the curb. Solid wood. Gorgeous. The only thing wrong with them was that a couple of the legs had come off. In our throwaway society, that's excuse enough to discard something... At least they had the good sense of including the legs...! All that required was a good wood glue. A simple repair that cost pennies.

They might be somewhat old, because the name "Peppler" was branded inside the drawer. A little bit of research revealed that this is a now defunct Canadian high end furniture making company that was established in Hanover, Ontario. I'm not sure, but I believe they may have been bought out by what is now the Sklar-Peppler company. I couldn't find any information to that effect. So, I don't now for sure how old the tables are, but they're really solid and great workmanship.

Dodo head here forgot to take a before pic. Here's one of the drawers anyhoo:

And a view from the bottom, lol! (It's the piece with green tape at the top left of the picture.

 I remembered to take a photo of the handles mid-painting:

Quite gorgeous!

I painted the tables in Annie Sloan French Linen. I painted the handles with ASCP Old White, and also used Old White to dry brush the wood trim on the drawer fronts to accent them and tie in with the handles. After a coat of ASCP Clear Wax all over, I then applied some ASCP dark wax to the wood trim to give them an aged look. No distressing, just solid paint.

 French Linen is such a great, versatile neutral. Love it.

I brought them to Rustic and Refined Interiors and they sold almost right away! It gives me joy to think that somebody likes my work. They like it, they really like it!!

Linking up to:

The Square Round End Table

First off, I'd like to remind you about my giveaway for a free My Memories' digital scrapbooking software package. Click HERE to read all about its amazing features and how to enter. I'm extending it till Monday, so you still have time!

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I'm working hard to try and paint all the big pieces in the garage so as to make room, but they appear to be multiplying instead of diminishing, lol! Anybody else has that problem? This is what it looks like:

It ain't pretty behind the scene, folks!

Sooooo, it doesn't seem like my goal of getting the garage empty of all the furniture to be painted before the winter will materialize, so I'm facing another winter of parking outside, lol! First world problems, am I right?

In any case, I did manage to finish a few items that I delivered to Rustic and Refined Interiors this week, one of which was this little table. I found it at a garage sale and I paid a little more than I normally would, but I thought it had really appealing details.

It is both square and round, proving you can be versatile in life!

It has some rough spots.

 (Here is my dog Coco photobombing. Both she and the cat love to do this! 
They're like children, ooooh, Mom's got the camera out! Let's get in the shot!)

I chose French Linen for the top and the rim and Old White for the legs and the stencilling on top. I decided to keep the square on top, so I used Frog Tape to mark it off. Seeing as it is a little bit on the pricey side, I save my Frog Tape for when I need to create neat lines and detailing.

A little stencil detail in the centre for added interest.

I chose not to do any distressing, keeping it neat and clean lined instead.

This table is now at the store, awaiting its new home.

I'm working on a beautiful antique server that was left at the curb. Yes. Left at the curb. Free. Nothing wrong with it, it has beautiful hardware and everything. Wait till you see it!

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Linking up to these wonderful parties:

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Modern Classic

I saw her at the thrift store. She didn't stand out much, but I had a vision for her. 

 She had great lines. Great curves.

But she looked tired. She needed a facelift.

Her seat, once a pretty needlepoint, was scratched and ripped.

Here is my vision completed:

She got refreshed with a couple of coats of ASCP French Linen, clear wax and dark wax.

The dark wax really accentuates the lines and the curves.

Her needlepoint seat got recovered with a fresh, modern fabric.

The needlepoint is still there underneath, a nod to her past, perhaps to be rediscovered and recovered in another era, when she needs another facelift.

Everything old is new again.

Don't you wish it was that easy to look young once again?

Linking up to:

http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.ca/2012/07/whats-it-wednesday-35.html