Sunday, December 12, 2010

Mud-room, Kitchen, Foyer . . . Maybe?

My Mother bought me this neat little bench that was made from an old twin bed. It must be a common style because I've seen many of these benches at flea markets and antique stores. My goal was to make this one very unique! It took quite a while to come up with the idea of what I was going to do. then, it hit me . . .

I live in Tennessee where there are many farms, horses, and of course our neighboring state is Kentucky (I'm actually about 45 minutes from KY). It just made sense to create a rustic, farm-house-style bench that could be used in a mud-room or a kitchen, even an foryer would work. 

My Mother painted a beautiful pastural scene on the back of the bench with horses, green grass and rolling hills. I added a plaster border of leaves around her artwork and then painted the border with a dusting of slight bronze. The next step was to paint the entire bench "Black Raisin," a very pretty, soft, brown, Sherwin Williams color.

The finishing touch was the delightful cushion that one of my sisters made out of chocolate and cream mattress ticking. The cushion fit the bench like a glove! She even made little notches on each corner to accommodate the corner posts! What neat work she does!




Thank goodness for a talented Mother and sister! I will be taking it tomorrow to a wonderful shop near Nashville to see if some of their shoppers may be interested in buying it for a Chirstmas present. Wish me luck!


Monday, December 6, 2010

Italian Brick and Plaster

Just a few photos of my recent Italian Brick and Plaster faux finish that I completed for one of my clients. The bricks and mortar are created by using a plaster-like product in a 17-step finish. Yes, you read correctly! It takes about 3 weeks to complete this process . . . taping off the grout lines, getting the brick colors just right, sealing the brick, etc, etc! This finish has a wonderful end result with a total transformation where ever it is featured! I have created this finish in several restaurants and also residences.







Wednesday, November 17, 2010

1920's Chest of Drawers

This adorable, 1920's, chest of drawers recently fell in to my lap, and oh, what a nice surprise! This piece was in very good condition which made it a pleasure to work with. You know how sometimes an old piece of furniture will have a yucky smell - like a musty odor or smokey smell? Well, this piece was immaculate.

Here are the before photos . . . a beautiful, maple finish with original, brass drawer pulls - vintage pulls, but missing one :(

It was so pretty that it was kind of hard to think of a new life for it . . .  but my visions and dreams of a shabby, white, feminine look took over my appreciation of its originality! 


Sanding and priming are my least favorite steps of a project, but hey, it has to be done, right? It was a good time to search for drawer pull replacements - in the evening, while waiting for the primer to dry, I was scouring the internet. 

It was soon time to take action with the paint and distressing! I selected a white paint, called Bisque, from Sherwin Williams. I planned for a rub down of light walnut stain later.

My sister found some wonderful, vintage glass knobs for me at an antique store where she lives. They were a perfect fit!!! Thanks, Susie!

Here is the finished chest of drawers. The only photos that I have of the completed piece are from the craft show that I was in right after completion. I will try to make some more soon!

Sunday, November 14, 2010

1920's Vanity Table - Oh the Possibilities!

This wonderful little vanity table was waiting for me at a junk store -- it was just calling my name! It was great price, and I knew I had to have it. It is in very good shape along with the original casters still attached. It has wonderful scrolly work on the drawer fronts and beautiful turned legs! Only one of the drawer pulls is missing, but that is no big deal.

As I was sanding the top I noticed that it is a beautiful cherry vaneer -- I could even smell the cherry wood. It was such a nice surprise to see what was hiding underneath a coat of high gloss black paint and a coat of white. I was so excited to discover the beautiful vaneer that I am contemplating putting a poly on the cherry and painting below the vanity top in a cream color and then distressing it . . .  what do you think?   


I have finally remembered to take "before" photos.
Hopefully I will have the "after" photos very soon!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Faux Cakes, Not Ho-Cakes!

Here are several cupcakes that I made from my faux finishing products. My painted furniture needed some fun, festive display items to help create some small vignettes!
Cupcakes were the perfect fit!



Sunday, October 31, 2010

Finally Back On the Scene!!

Wow!
It is incredible how busy I've been getting ready for my
art and antique show in Leiper's Fork.
The weather was beautiful - warm and sunny, and my 3 sisters and I had a FABULOUS time. One of my sisters carves beautiful gourds, another sister makes beautiful hand carved boat paddles out of exotic woods and my 3rd sister makes wonderful, custom slipcovers (she also sold several varieties of homemade cake - YUM). All very talented ladies and fun, to boot! Here are a few photos from the show.


Best Helper -- 1st Place Winner  - - - Brother-in-law, Mike.
A BIG THANK YOU!
Mike toted, hauled, tied, stabilized, packed, unpacked, arranged and installed a car battery.
All with a smile!!





Sunday, August 29, 2010

Good News to Begin the Weekend!

What exciting news on this lazy,
late summer, sunny Saturday!
My little "Princess Chair and Ottoman" sold today in my booth to a sweet lady named Donna! 
I hope this little set brings fun and happiness to your granddaughter!
Purple princess fabric, purple fringe, apple green fabric for the seat and
covered buttons make this set a one-of-a-kind! 

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Bamboo, Beach and Ocean Breeze! The Sea, The Sea, The Open Sea!

I recently had the wonderful opportunity to create a faux finish in a beautiful and elegant home on the lake. My client wanted a bamboo design with metallic gold leaves surrounding her seascape, oil painting. The faux finish was for her elegant powder room of persimmon and cream colors. Her request was to "frame" her painting as if the bamboo and leaves were part of the seascape. She was delighted with the end result!
This project made me want to live near the beach!  

The Sea! the sea! the open sea!
The blue, the fresh, the ever free!
Without a mark, without a bound,
It runneth the earth's wide regions round;
It plays with the clouds; it mocks the skies;
Or like a cradled creature lies.
-- Cornwell

Friday, July 23, 2010

Oh What A Beautiful Morning!

My husband, in support of my new blog (and probably secretly hoping I would post them on my blog), sent me these photos this morning that he took from the flower beds at his office! I was in complete shock at the beauty and color that he captured! Hope you enjoy them as much as I have!

With the rose the butterfly's deep in love, A thousand times hovering round; But round himself, all tender like gold, The sun's sweet ray is hovering found. -- Heine

I'd be a butterfly, born in a bower, Where roses and lilies and violets meet. -- Bayly