I often wonder if I was meant to live in a different age and time. I do think I could have been quite happy living during the Victorian era, sitting quietly day to day, sipping tea and laboring away at needlepoint and writing long, thoughtful letters to dear friends. I am sure that the troubles and tribulations of that time would be wearing and I might change my mind, but it's fun to romanticize and dream about these times past.
Although this tilt-top table isn't from the Victorian era, it is older and was modeled after the tables used in parlors for tea time. I have always wanted to get my hands on one, but up until a couple of weeks ago had not come across one for sale. For this reason, I was willing to pay a little more for this table than I normally would for a piece this size. Also, it was very sturdy and the mechanism functioned well. It seemed worth the investment.
I knew this table top needed something extra special, as it would not only serve as a place to set things, but as a piece of art when displayed upright. I started with a mixture of Louis Blue and French Linen Chalk Paint®. Once this was dry, I applied a stencil by layering and alternating colors in Paloma and Pure White.
Once I had the stencil technique just right, I brushed on some slightly watered down Pearl Plaster by Artisan Enhancements to give the finish a beautiful Pearlized effect.
I applied the Pearl Plaster all over the entire table and sealed it with Annie Sloan's clear and dark wax.
I was hesitant to use dark wax on this piece, but when I got to the point where the decision had to be made, the finish was looking a little too modern for this table.
The dark wax seemed to add just the right amount of aging to get the antiqued finish I was looking for.
The day after waxing, I buffed and buffed this sweet little table to give it a lot of extra shimmer and shine! The finish feels velvety and soft. I am really pleased with how it turned out. It now sits in my booth at Camas Antiques awaiting a chance to grace someone's lovely parlor (or living room) and hold a beautiful tea set and needlepoint work (or a glass of white wine and a kindle).
The more I think about it, the happier I am to be living in this day and age. At no other time in history could a woman sit down at her computer and correspond with other like-minded, passionate, creative individuals all over the world! Amazing, isn't it?
I will fill my longings for times gone by with Masterpiece movies and mini-series! They transport me to a romantic era, fill me with creative inspiration and offer a glimpse into a different kind of life. When I can, I love to watch (or mostly listen) to period films while I paint. All during the time I worked on this piece, I had the North and South series on in the background.
If you love period dramas like I do, you've probably seen North and South many times. If not, it is available on Netflix and Amazon Prime! All you Downton fans will surely recognize the gentleman on the far left in this promo ad!
Thank you so much for your sweet visit today! I appreciate you stopping by!
Best Wishes and Blessings,
Amanda
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