More in Paris Grey and Some Junk Worthy Weekend Plans!

I had just enough of my Paris Grey chalk paint sample left to do up this cute little vintage chair and end table over the weekend.  These were added to my shop display last night.  Sorry I don't have before pics this time!  The table was actually a piece I had previously painted cream and the chair...well, I just sort of got ahead of myself and forgot to snap a pic before I grabbed the paint brush!  It had been previously painted a shiny grey with red accents. 

I love the combination of cream, grey and the dark wax.  The distressing really accented the charming details here.

I'll be sharing more about how I added the scalloped stripe detail on this chair in another post this week.  You won't believe how easy it was, and I think it really adds some softness to an otherwise straight and ordinary vintage chair.

What do you think?

I brought home some darling photos of children and families from the early 1900's this weekend.  A few have been added to my display at the shop but I've saved most to share with you in another post!

Check out those hair bows!  Fabulous!

If you live in the area, there are a few fun events going on this weekend!  I can't wait to shop the Junk Salvation show in Hillsboro!  Let me know if you're going!  I'd love to see some blog buddies out treasure hunting!  And on Friday night, downtown Camas is having "A Chocolate Affair to Remember" for their First Friday event!  Sounds delicious!

I hope you are having a lovely day!  Thanks so much for your sweet visit!

Best Wishes and Blessings,

Amanda

Linking up to these fun blog parties!

Sew-Crafty Tuesday at Ruby Jean's

Wow us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

Paris Grey Table and Pretty Weekend Finds

Yep, I'm still painting!  But guess what?  I ran out of paint, mid project late last night!  Eeeek!  I know you're thinking;  "she just got her chalk paint, how can she be out already?"  Let me tell you, I have been a painting fool for the past two weeks!  A hilarious comment left by Lisa of A Suburban Retreat last week pretty much sums it up.  She said "Gosh, Amanda, you're like Girl's Gone Wild with ASCP!"  Hahaha!  Conjurs up images of girls in bikinis with paint brushes and cans of chalk paint, doesn't it?  LOL!  Not this girl!  Brrrrr!  Thanks for the laugh, Lisa!

I do have more completed projects to share with you though and I am planning to do an overview post to show you just how far I was able to stretch my first order of ASCP.

  I didn't jump up and down with excitement when I first spotted this little table at the Goodwill.  I was staring at it in the furniture section when I received a cell phone call from the shop letting me know that I had just sold a table out of my booth space!  I took that as a sign and hauled it to the register.  It is sturdy, good quality and has lovely, unique lines.
 

Before my chalk paint arrived, I had painted one coat of my (former) favorite creamy white latex paint onto the table.  It sat in the garage like that for several days.  A mix of Paris Grey and Old White made up the second (final) coat last week.  I then distressed the whole piece, covered it with a coat of clear wax, and then dark.  I love the overall finish and will be using this combo again soon!

A piece of pretty pink wallpaper lines the skinny drawer.

I picked up some wonderful treasures over the weekend!  Several pretty bone china teacups will be added to my booth space tonight along with the Paris Grey table.

Did you know that tea naturally tastes better in a bone china teacup?  It's true!

I also picked up this pretty butter yellow old Fiestaware disc pitcher.  I love the aged, crazed patina!  Many more fun vintage finds and chalk paint makeovers to come...so stay tuned!

Thank you so much for your sweet visit today!  I hope you have a truly wonderful week!

Best Wishes and Blessings,
Amanda

Linking up to these fun blog parties!
Sew-Crafty Tuesday at Ruby Jean's
Wow us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style
Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Home

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense

Furniture Feature Friday with Miss Mustard Seed

Bow and Garland Antique Mirror Makeover

Added to my shop space this week was a beautiful mirror I picked up while out thrifting not long ago.  It was old, heavy and missing bits of trim here and the price was a little higher than I like to pay for a thrifted mirror, but the bow detail won me over!  At some point someone had spray painted the frame a shimmery bronze/brown color.  Not a horrible color, but the beautiful trim was almost altogether lost in it. 

2 coats of ASCP Old White later and a treatment of clear and dark waxes and the bow and garland motif really stands out!

I made my poor little dog pose in front of the finished mirror for a little photo shoot.  He was so confused as to why I would make him sit here and stare at himself.  His defense mechanism was to lie down and go to sleep! 

I am planning to add a little more color to my display this month!  I feel like it's time to change things up a bit.  Of course I am still in love with white and there will always be lots of neutrals available in my booth space!

Thank you for your sweet visit!  I am joining my friend Kathleen at Faded Charm for White Wednesday!  Come check out all of the wonderful white inspiration there!  Have a lovely day!

Best Wishes and Blessings,

Amanda

My First (of many!) Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Makeovers!

Five days ago I received my first order of Annie Sloan paint and wax!  I must say, all of the DIY bloggers gushing over Annie's products were not exaggerating!  I am sold...completely sold!  I have completed a lot of little projects in the last several days, but I first want to show you my favorite piece!  I spotted this sweet little vanity on Craigslist a week ago Friday. 

We were on our way to Mt. Hood to spend the weekend helping out with our Church's Youth Group Retreat.  I called from the road and explained that I couldn't come to see the vanity until Sunday...but I knew that I wanted it and I asked very sweetly if it could be held for me until then.  The woman said no, and I didn't blame her.  She didn't know me from Adam.  She had already heard from a few interested parties and was certain that someone would show up with cash that same day.  I dreamt of those sweet little turned legs all weekend and when we headed back down the mountain on Sunday, I searched my phone for the post...still there!  When I called back, the woman said that she had received several calls about the vanity over the weekend but no one had actually been by to see it!  She wasn't available to show it to me that afternoon and asked me to call back the next morning.  I was beginning to get an idea of why no one else was successful in purchasing this unique little piece!  Determined, I picked up the phone the following morning.  "Can you come now?"  she asked!  Yes!  It was meant to be!  I quickly loaded my littlest guy into my truck with me and headed on down the road!  Included in the purchase of the vanity was this wonderful old oak mirror. 

The woman had thought that it was originally a part of the vanity...but you and I both know that these are two very different styles, and obviously different kinds of wood.  I didn't argue with her.  I loved the mirror too and will surely be able to use it! 

I started this vanity's makeover with a coat of Old White, followed by a coat of 3 parts Old White/1 part Duck Egg Blue.  From there I tapped into my new found knowledge of furniture waxing tips and tricks, thanks to a few extra helpful tutorials from sweet and generous bloggers (see my Paint it Annie! Pinterest Board for links!)  First an overall coat of clear wax, then dark, followed by clear again...and then a whole lot of buffing!  And here is the finished product...

     I am very pleased with how this piece turned out!  I love the color, but can hardly wait to try some of Annie's other beautiful hues!  Thank you so much for your sweet visit! 

I hope you're having a wonderful day!

Best Wishes and Blessings,
Amanda


Linking up to these fun blog parties!
Sew-Crafty Tuesday at Ruby Jean's
Wow us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style
Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Home

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense

Furniture Feature Friday with Miss Mustard Seed

Outdated Artwork Redo

Ever since my chalk paint order arrived Wednesday night (yes, night...for the first time ever the UPS truck showed up after dinner...talk about a long day of waiting!)  I have been out in the garage painting every chance I get!  I wish I had a bunch of fabulous makeovers to show you today but most all of my projects are still in the works!  So, I thought I'd share a piece of updated artwork with you.  I found this print at the Salvation Army a couple of weeks ago.  The image really drew me in...I love the era, the clothing, the setting, the way the mother is lovingly looking at her handsome boy! 

The framing job was very well done, but everything about it screamed "1990's Home Interiors Party!" 

Right away I removed the print, matting and glass and painted the frame cream.  Just about the time the cream paint had completely dried on the frame, my Annie Sloan order arrived.  So, I experimented with the waxes...first clear, then dark, then clear again.  It was just what the frame needed to give it a nice "aged" look!  I must say though, I am new to this whole waxing process and it is going to take some practice!  I didn't do any sanding because I really didn't want that brassy gold to show through!  I think the book pages really bring the print to life!  I tried very hard to line up the pages so that the margins were the same width on all sides...giving the allusion of a double mat.  The only way to do this on the bottom was to turn the pages upside down.  So, the bottom half of the matting has upside down print, but I decided that gave it an artistic twist.  Haha!  For now, I am enjoying this updated art print above our living room mantle, but it will eventually end up at the shop... because as much as I love this print, I have since found something that I love more!  And that is a really wonderful benefit of being a Treasure Broker!

Thank you for your sweet visit today!  I hope you have a lovely weekend!

Best Wishes and Blessings,

Amanda

I will be sharing with these fun parties:

Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Potpourri Friday at 2805

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Wow us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense

White Wednesday at Faded Charm

Jumping on the AS Chalk Paint Bandwagon...Finally!

(source)

"Out for delivery" is the updated status on my UPS tracking number for my my Annie Sloan Chalk Paint order!  I can hardly wait to try out the furniture paint I have been reading about for months now!  I have several pieces cleaned, set out on drop cloths in the garage, all ready to go.  I've watched so many tutorials online and my husband even bought me a couple of Annie Sloan painting guide books for Christmas!  I am so ready to put my paint brush to work!  It took me days to decide which colors to order first.  The photos so many of you creative bloggers have shared with us all really helped me to make an informed decision!  It was wonderful to actually see a paint color on a piece of furniture...and not just a paint chip!  During my research process, I created a pinterest board of my favorite Chalk paint makeovers and noted the color combinations used for each.  You can find my board here, if you're interested.  I will share the colors I chose in a later post when I have some completed pieces to photograph!  Alrighty...I am going to go sit by the front window and watch anxiously for that big brown truck to pull up in my driveway!  (Not literally...I have two kids and whole lot of housework and projects awaiting...who has time to sit and look out the window?)  Hope you're having a wonderful day!

Best Wishes and Blessings,

Amanda 

Royal Albert Collection

So, I picked up a few dishes today...  Okay, more than just a few.  A woman was selling her collection of Royal Albert Lady Caryle and Lady Ascot on Craigslist this week.  She would use the money from the dishes, along with that from a few other household item sales to pay her rent.  A sad story, but one that I'm sure is all too common in today's economy.  Many of us have been there, and can empathize.  I was happy to hand over the cash that would help her out, as I loaded up the place settings to complete my collection I have been working on for close to 10 years now.  She said she was glad to know that her collection, which had sat in boxes for years would be going to a new home where they would be used and enjoyed.  I assured her that they would be used and enjoyed by many, because my mom and I often host large formal tea parties where we use our best bone china!  She said that was exactly the kind of fate she had hoped for her pretty dishes!

This Royal Albert "Rosetime Chintz" wasn't part of the lot I purchased today.  I actually found these pretty vintage dishes at an estate sale a few weeks ago.  I just love mixing patterns and these pair so well with the Lady Carlyle and Lady Ascot!

I painted a couple more Tea Party signs for my space at Camas this week, too!  Surely someone is in the mood for a tea party...I know I am!

Thank you so much for your sweet visit today!  I hope you're having a wonderful week!  I am heading up to the mountain tomorrow to ski for the first time in many many years. 

Wish me luck...I'm going to need it!

Best Wishes and Blessings,

Amanda

p.s.  Dear Blog Friends - I've finally stared a Facebook page for Girl in Pink!  I would love it if you'd join me there!  The button on my sidebar will take you directly to the page!  You'll also notice I have a button for Pinterest now, too!

joining these lovely ladies for their fun weekly parties:

 Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday

Courtney at French Country Home for Feathered Nest Friday

Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

Alison at Stuff and Nonsense for Fridays Unfolded

Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday