A Change of Heart... About Tiered End Tables

I used to avoid these old tiered end tables when I would spot them while out thrifting or estate sailing.  Something about them felt a little too "trapped in the 60's" for me.  I could just see a pair of them perfectly placed on either side of a crushed velvet orange sofa, with a matching brass lamp on each one.  At some point though, I had a change of heart.  What a great piece of furniture for displaying treasures!  Here are a couple of other tiered end tables that I made over with ASCP this year.  I don't pass by these tables anymore, especially if they have those pretty curvy legs!

 

Old White dark waxed.

 

 

Aubusson Blue mixed with Old White and Paris Grey, with clear and dark wax.

 

  These tables don't necessarily have to be wedged between a couch and a chair, they work well in just about any room of the home, and could even be stacked on a larger table top for another tier for display!  I think this one would be lovely placed next to an elegant claw foot tub!

  To achieve this finish, I started with one coat of Antoinette over the entire table, followed by one coat of French Linen.  I came back and added more Antoinette to the carved details and then distressed here and there to further accentuate the details and to allow a bit more pink to show through.  I completed the table with clear and dark wax...more dark on the legs and carved detail, and mostly clear on the table tops.

 

 

Are you wondering when I am going to get to the pink painted metal lunchbox?  I probably could have done a second post on it...but my time is so limited these days that I am doing good to get one post written each week!  Today's post is two projects in one!

 

 

 Some of you will probably reach for a Kleenex when you see the before picture of this lunchbox.  Yes, it had great patina, perfectly worn and rusted in just the right spots.  I am sure the man that carried his lunch to work everyday in this classic, masculine box would cringe at the sight of it painted pink and dolled up with rhinestones and pearls!  Well, I intend to keep this one.  I made it over for my studio space, to hold craft supplies.  I did like the before, and appreciated the patina but it was all wrong for the decor in my home.  Now it's perfect!

 

 

 I painted the entire box in Antoinette and then added a stripe and painted the clasps with Old White. 

 

 

I then distressed the whole box to accentuate the lines and show a bit of that nice grey patina and applied dark wax all over. 

 

 

 Once the paint finish was complete, I decided the box needed a little bling!  I adhered the vintage pendant with 5 minute epoxy, and attached an organza bow to the top.  Where there was once a plastic handle (and then a dirty old piece of twine), there is now an old charm bracelet that I discovered in a grab bag of old broken jewelry.  I don't know exactly what I will store in my pretty new box yet, but it looks lovely on my studio shelf!

 

 

 This sweet little mirrored dresser tray is headed to the shop this evening, along with the tiered table and a few other fun little treasures!

 

 

I came across this religious medallion at the same estate sale where I found the hymnals, dresser tray and lunchbox!  I thought it would be fun to add to the hymnal bundle!

 

 

 

 We have a really fun event happening in downtown Camas this Saturday evening!  If you live in the area, grab your girlfriends and join us for "Girl's Night Out."   Go here for more details!  I will be there, in the window of the antique store doing painting demonstrations!  Stop by and say hello!

 

Thank you so much for your sweet visit today!  Have a wonderful weekend!

 

Best Wishes and Blessings,

Amanda

 

 

Sharing this post with these fun link parties:

Restored it Wednesday at Restore Interiors
Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Party at Shades of Amber
Primp Your Stuff Wednesday at Primp
Creative Things Thursday at The Vintage Farmhouse

Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Inspiration Friday at The Pickett Fence

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Home

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Furniture Feature Friday at Miss Mustard Seed
Potpourri Friday at 2805
Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound

Faux French Wallpaper Cupboard

 

This stenciling technique is one that I have been teaching in my ASCP workshops.  It is so much fun to see how different and unique each individual's sample board turns out!  Even those who are unsure about it at first, love the end result!  It really imitates the look of time-worn French wallpaper! 

 

 

I promised to shy away from Antoinette this week, so I've done some painting in Graphite, French Linen and Old White!

 

 

In the mood for Fall, I picked up these pretty golden pumpkins to jazz up my display!

 

I think the sheet music shreds are a perfect accent, don't you? 

Almost like hay...but with a touch of vintage class!

 

 

This table was painted in Paris Grey and finished with dark wax, followed by some clear.

 

 

The basket was made over with watered down French Linen.  I attempted the spray bottle technique but it wasn't working too well for me, so I mostly brushed it on.

 

 

Sorry to cut this short but I have so much to do before the little one wakes up from her nap! 

 

 I hope you are having a lovely day!

 

Thank you for your sweet visit!

 

Best Wishes and Blessings,

Amanda

 

 

 

Sharing this post with these fun link parties:

Restored it Wednesday at Restore Interiors
Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Party at Shades of Amber
Primp Your Stuff Wednesday at Primp
Creative Things Thursday at The Vintage Farmhouse
Link Party at Redoux Interiors

Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Inspiration Friday at The Pickett Fence

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Home

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Furniture Feature Friday at Miss Mustard Seed
Paint Projects at Primitive and Proper
Potpourri Friday at 2805

 

 

 

Not So Spooky

I drove home from an estate sale last weekend, covered in dirt, rust and grease with a smile on my face and truck full of treasures!  As I drove along, thinking about the 4 old birdcages I had just salvaged, I was suddenly inspired to do a little Fall crafting!

 

 After scrubbing years of bird crud off of the wires, and removing dozens of little feeders, watering vessels and funny little bird "toys,"  I lined the bottom of the cages with tea stained book pages.

 

 

I attached a few friendly crows and one adorable owl to some knobby twigs and arranged them in each cage.

 

 

 

 

Next, I did a little paper crafting, making "Happy Harvest" and "Happy Halloween" signs for a few of the birds to hold in their beaks, and a festive tag for each cage.

 

 

I think these cages are a fun, whimsical bit of Halloween or Fall vintage style decor, without being

too spooky! 

 

They are headed to my space at Camas Antiques tonight!

 

 

 

Thank you for your sweet visit today!  I am off to see if I can get a little painting done!  I hope to have a furniture makeover to share soon! 

 

Enjoy the rest of your week!

 

Best Wishes and Blessings,

Amanda

 

 

 

Sharing this post with these fun link parties:

Creative Things Thursday at The Vintage Farmhouse

Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Inspiration Friday at The Pickett Fence

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Home

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Potpourri Friday at 2805

 

Painting is Keeping Me Sane!

 

 

 I had a blast talking to shoppers about Annie Sloan Chalk Paint at the Vintage Street Faire! As busy as things are with three kiddos to care for and keep up with, I am so thankful to have a creative outlet, and sharing my passion for ASCP with others re-energizes me!

  

 

 

 As a part of my "demonstration display," I had a pair of ornate Victorian style gold frames, left one as my "before" and painted the other in French Linen, Old White and Antoinette, adding a lot of dark wax for lucious patina.

 

"Happily Ever After, Annie Sloan!"

 

 

 

The following Monday night, I taught my first Chalk Paint workshop in the window at Camas Antiques.  We had such a fun evening!  I am really looking forward to the next class!  We have two workshops scheduled for September, so if you live in the area and would like to join us, please call Camas Antiques at 360-834-4062 to reserve your seat.

 

 

You would think that maybe after all of this, I would need a little break from painting, but no!  I was on such a chalk paint high, I went home and got to work on a few pieces for the shop.  It's definitely harder to find time to paint these days, so my projects have been on a much smaller scale but I find it so necessary to find the time to create...it keeps me somewhat sane!

 

 

This sweet little table has been sitting in our garage for some time now, awaiting it's transformation but until just a few days ago, it hadn't really spoken to me.  I just love how it turned out.

 

 

I am a little obsessed with the combination of Antoinette and Old White these days...but I think that is pretty obvious, if you have read my last few posts.

 

 

I will do my best to branch out and try some different colors this weekend, but don't you love the feminine, romantic feel of the pink and white combined with the dark wax?  I do!

 

 

My passion for frames coincides with my passion for paint.  ASCP works magic on tired old 1980's Victorian frames.  A beautiful frame has so many possibilities in home decor.

 

 

Annie's dark wax takes a frame from "freshly painted" to "elegant, time-worn French Chic." 

 

I can't get enough of it!

 

 

 

I will leave you with a recent photo of my space at Camas Antiques.  Thank you for your sweet visit.  Have a wonderful weekend!  Happy Painting!

 

Best Wishes and Blessings,

Amanda

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sharing this post with these fun link parties:
 

Restored it Wednesday at Restore Interiors
Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Party at Shades of Amber
Primp Your Stuff Wednesday at Primp
Creative Things Thursday at The Vintage Farmhouse
Link Party at Redoux Interiors

Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Inspiration Friday at The Pickett Fence

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Home

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Furniture Feature Friday at Miss Mustard Seed
Paint Projects at Primitive and Proper
Potpourri Friday at 2805

A Little Glimpse

Thank you to all of you who read my last post and left your congratulations and well wishes regarding the newest little member of our family!  We feel so blessed to have her in our lives! 

Today I thought I would share with you a little corner of my art studio, which is still in progress.  I am hoping to give you a full tour soon!  There are just a few finishing touches that I am still working on!  Of course I know that the whole room will be ever-evolving, but I feel like it should be a little more complete before I show you every little corner!

 

I was in the midst of this room makeover when I turned my attention to painting a pink nursery!  I will share that room with you soon, too!  This Saturday we have a Vintage Street Faire in downtown Camas!  I have a list of items I am on the lookout for to add some charm to both rooms in-progress!  I have a feeling that I will find what I am in search of at this amazing show!

 

 

If you live in the Pacific Northwest, and you love vintage as much as I do, you will not want to miss this event!  I will be there, doing Chalk Paint demonstrations in front of Camas Antiques from 10-12!  Please stop by and say hello!

 

 

I found this little wooden table-top organizer at a recent estate sale for $3!  I couldn't wait to make it over with ASCP!  I used Antoinette of course, adding a little stencilled detail in Old White and finishing off the shabby, vintage look with lots of dark wax.

 

 

 It's perfect for holding pens, scissors, tape, glue, and a few fun and pretty vintage finds!

 

 

A few months ago I bought myself a vintage Underwood typewriter and the man who sold it to me "threw in" it's original shipping crate!  I didn't paint it, it came in this yummy green color!  I have used it in a few different places in our house, but I am really enjoying it on my craft table right now!

 

 

 I recently set up a little photo shoot with my favorite teacups and teapots and have been using the prints to make "tea cards" which are available for purchase in my shop space. 

 

 

Each card is trimmed out with vintage laces and trims and has a Harney & Sons' Paris Tea bag attached inside.

 

 

Until the adoption is finalized, we have decided not to share any photos of our little Miss in the social media realm.  However, I thought this little glimpse couldn't hurt!  Here is the view from my work table...as I am making up my tea cards!  We are having so much fun with this little sweetie!

 

I hope your week is going well!  Don't forget to stop by and see me at the Vintage Street Faire on Saturday if you are in the area!

 

Thank you for your sweet visit!

 

Best Wishes and Blessings,

Amanda 

 

 

 

 

Sharing this post with these fun link parties:
 

THT at From My Front Porch to Yours

Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Inspiration Friday at The Pickett Fence

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Home

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense

 

Creating out of Necessity & an Explanation of My Absence From Blogland!

My husband keeps pointing out to me that it has been a month since my last blog post!  Trust me, I have been dying to work on some projects to share with my blog buddies, but there honestly hasn't been a moment to spare in the last, busy, hectic and exciting 30 days! 

When I finally got around to painting this old toolbox, I knew it would be the perfect makeover to show while explaining my extended absence from Blogland! You see, I brought this old $1 yard sale find in from the garage out of necessity. As foster parents, we are required to have all medication in a locked box. Yes, I said Foster Parents! That's what we've been up to for the past month...classes, paperwork, visits, moving our boys into a shared room with bunk beds and painting a PINK nursery! 

Just 11 days ago we brought home a beautiful, happy, sweet 5 month old baby girl!  At the moment, she is napping, allowing me time to write up this post for you all!

I can't share too many details right now about her, but I can tell you that we all adore her, and we hope and pray that we get to be her forever home!

(Tool box painted with Annie Sloan's Antoinette, cross in Old White and completed with Dark Wax).

Thank you for your sweet visit today!  Sorry to cut this short, but time is at a premium in our house these days and I must get a load of laundry started!  I do finally feel like things are falling into place.  Having a baby in the house again has been quite an adjustment but we are doing remarkebly well and I am hopeful that we've gotten into enough of a routine that I can find some time here and there to create and share!

Best Wishes and Blessings,

Amanda

Sharing With Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound !