Craft Fair

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends. I always enjoy every bit of time I can spend with my family. Instead of having a relaxing weekend, I was super anxious about taking my V.T.N.E (Veterinary Technician National Exam). I've been studying every day for the past 4 months and I'm happy to announce that I passed it and can now take a very short breather.

Moving on...

Now that that is behind me, I am cranking out some awesome projects. I will be having my first booth at a craft fair EVER! It will be at Eva M. Wolfe Elementary School on December 14th. So far, I'm really excited about the pieces I will be bringing that night. I have some fancy reupholstered chairs, end tables, footstools, a couple of dressers, some cute growth chart crafts, and I've been furiously hot gluing headbands for girls. The headbands are super over the top with gorgeous feathers, flowers, and some bling because that's how I roll.

Here's a little sneak peek of what will be at the craft fair so don't miss out. I will be taking cash, debit and credit cards that night. See you there:)

Eva M Wolfe Elementary School
4027 West Washburn Road, North Las Vegas, NV 89031
December 14th 2012
6pm- until closing

Linking back to...
missmustardseed.com
www.bystephanielynn.com

Primitive Pie Shelf

I was given a great opportunity to give a new look to a very old piece. When I first saw a picture of the piece I didn't want to paint it. I loved the old worn look. When I saw it in person I understood why it needed a new look. It clearly had a lot of work done on it and wasn't an original. The bead board doors had been replaced,  the hardware was new and the paint job looked runny.

My client just moved to Vegas and was feeling inspired to go for a Southwestern feel. I repainted the outside with a dry brush technique using Duck Egg Blue Chalk Paint. I didn't want a solid paint finish. We both wanted to try and keep the integrity of this shelf as much as possible. I love the worn wood peeking through.

The inside of this cabinet got a special treatment. It went from cobwebs and clumps of stuck on dirt to clean, bright, and fresh. The inside was painted in an Arles yellow paint.

The old beadboard backing was removed, along with about a dozen rusty nails sure to cause tetanus. My husband put in new beadboard sure to last a very long time!

Jenine



Linking back to...
linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com
missmustardseed.com
www.funkyjunkinteriors.net
www.savvysouthernstyle.net
www.theshabbycreekcottage.com
romantichome.blogspot.com

Antoinette Armoire

I came across this cutie on Craigslist. I don't usually find real antique pieces for a decent price around here, I almost feel guilty for painting it. If we all paint the antiques there'll be nothing left to get real patina right?

I justified myself painting it due to an added shelf  that wasn't original. A little rippling and clearly some wood glue.  No one was rushing to buy it earlier on Craigslist as is.  I hope I improved this piece and someone will love it. .

This "armoire"? Not even sure if that's what it is, or should be called, as it is quite small. I think it would be perfect for a girls room to hold books, movies, or blankets. I could see it in a large bathroom holding extra towels, or perhaps a guest room to hold extra sheets and blankets.

I painted the base coat in ASCP Coco, then Antoinette over it. I fell in love with those colors together and really wanted to use them. I love brown with pink. Instead of sanding to give a distressed look, I chose another method. I wiped the edges with some elbow grease and a damp rag. It's a great way to distress when you paint with two colors and want the color underneath to show. I think it looks very natural, not to mention you don't have all that dust :) Less sweeping my garage floor = more time for my family!

I painted the inside in a latex mint green paint that I had leftover from previous jobs. I think it gives it a nice pop and adds a fresh look to it.

I'll be putting this up for sale in my shop Monday evening. If you have questions about it please feel free to contact me using my contact button above.

Jenine



Linking back to...
www.kammyskorner.com
www.savvysouthernstyle.net
www.funkyjunkinteriors.net
www.iheartnaptime.net
www.theshabbycreekcottage.com

Ode to Summer

I was at Lowes one day picking up some items for my shop and ran across their new samples paint section, sporting all the new summer colors. I fell in love with this coral color. It's so yummy, it's one of those colors I just want to wear on my body. What does every beautiful coral color need? A gold accesory. I think the hardware on this dresser is the whole reason I was drawn to refinishing it.

I'm usually an A.S.C.P girl myself, but the color selection sometimes doesn't have what I need. I used latex paint for this armoire. I had custom painted this armoire previously but my client fell through. Since, it had been painted before it was back to good old sanding, priming, and painting. I think it looks awesome and was well worth the extra effort of latex paint.

Jenine



Linking back to...
www.bystephanielynn.com
missmustardseed.com
savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com

70's Armoire Restyle

We're here in Disneyland having the time of our lives. I have been so dedicated to my Thursday posts that I took a minute to do it. J/K I wrote this earlier this week and am sending it in on Thursday. You thought I needed a life for a second didn't you?

It seems every morning when I go to check my Etsy messages, they are always asking if I have another square armoire with drawers inside. I've learned if I come across one, just buy it. This week I worked on a really neat 70's style armoire. The cool twisting trim on the sides and huge hardware caught my eye. For some reason I just kept picturing some colorful Moroccan feel.

Of course if I think about it, a bright Moroccan look would never go in my home. Maybe not yours either. I was asked to paint this piece French Linen and Pure White, but I had never used these colors together and was hesitant. I was used to the French Linen looking a little green after the dark wax. I looked at some other ladies' amazing work with these colors online and I was sold. I was so excited to use them together! I used dark wax to age the piece and added some distressing by hand as always. The inside has been painted white and has no dark wax. I love the inside to look so clean and fresh. It just brightens my day.

Linking back to... 

missmustardseed.com

romantichome.blogspot.com

funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com

fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com 
savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com
primitiveandproper.blogspot.com
kammyskorner.blogspot.com
www.bystephanielynn.com

White and Whimsical

My crazy week has finally arrived and tomorrow the plumbers will be taking over my home. I have spent all week furiously painting to clear out a spot in my garage. I also am one of those people who cleans their house for the plumbers. My husband will never understand but maybe some of you ladies will. I mentioned that I'd be going to visit the in-laws for a few days. My daughter is always excited to see her grandparents and I haven't mentioned it to her, because the second I tell her she'll expect us to get in the car right then.

We have a pretty amazing offer from my sister to go with her family to Disneyland too! Our daughter has never been and doesn't even know that it exists. She's just starting to enjoy the Disney classics. I'm just so excited to see her face when she sees it all. We'll be heading off to Disneyland 3 hrs after stepping off the plane from Grandma's house. Pretty crazy huh?

I also get really stressed whenever we leave for a vacation and can't bring another member of our family, my weimeraner Julius. If you don't know what a weimeraner is that's ok, all you need to know is they're as neurotic as I am. They're a family dog and if they're away from their family even for short amount of time, they're crazy and destructive. I always pick him up from boarding with sores all over his nose from rubbing it on the kennel.

My husband knows how a can't relax and vacation when I have to worry about him. Since he is such a great hubby, he found a great boarding facility. The dogs play outside all day with the other dogs on a playground and splash pad, and they only are in kennels when they eat. At night they have fake 'living rooms' where the dogs all sleeps on couches and their beds and they can watch TV. This last part sold me as well- they have cameras online for you to see what they're doing 24/7. I can breathe easy this whole week. Well, almost, I'll still have perfect strangers in my house all week while I'm away.

Anyway, on to the furniture. You may know already that I have an Etsy shop. It's not huge, I just can't keep up with the demand here in Vegas as well as across the country where all my Etsy customers reside. When I buy a piece that doesn't already have a plan to go to someone here in Vegas, I list it on Etsy for custom painting orders. This little 3 drawer chest of drawers was on there for a week or so before getting snatched up for custom painting. Is this a large nightstand or small dresser? I don't know, but it does have some amazing details on the drawer fronts. I was asked to paint everything white with no distressing. Just white, classic and beautiful. I hope she loves it!



Linking back to...
kammyskorner.blogspot.com
fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com
primitiveandproper.blogspot.com
savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com
missmustardseed.com
romantichome.blogspot.com
funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com
www.theshabbycreekcottage.com

Some Wine With That?

This week I had the opportunity to paint an already beautiful wine cabinet. The cabinet has beautiful carving and detail. I painted it in Paris Grey mixed with a touch of Aubusson Blue and graphite to darken it up a bit, then gave it a heavy dose of dark waxing to dirty it up.

Here is the (small, sorry) picture that my client sent me of what she wanted the finished product to look like. What do you think, is it close?

When the piece was dropped off my helpful husband wasn't home to move it. I guess I'm not as strong as I think or I had too much lotion on that day, because I couldn't move it for the life of me. I ended up knocking on a neighbor's door and asking him to move it into the house for me :) The things I do for furniture. I'm an incredibly shy person so this was like a milestone in my life. I'm sure my mom is reading this and is in disbelief.

In the next few days I'll be finishing up a piano makeover and a shabby French provincial dresser, so I'll be sharing those with you guys also.



Linking back to...

romantichome.blogspot.com
funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com
missmustardseed.com
www.iheartnaptime.net
www.bystephanielynn.com
kammyskorner.blogspot.com
savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com
primitiveandproper.blogspot.com
linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com

Nightmares

It has been a rough few weeks here in our home. Both my husband and daughter have been sick and I can hardly keep up with things. Well, about a month and half ago I started painted this dresser for a client who found me on Etsy. She had seen one of my sold armoire/dressers and wanted one similar, but with different colors. After much deliberation and changing her mind a few times, she decided on Coco with a Paris Grey wash. I have never used the Coco myself so I referred her to the Annie Sloan website to get an idea of the color. I painted the first coat and sent her a picture.

We both thought the Coco looked much lighter than what we anticipated. Back to square one. Do you pick a different base coat color or add some graphite to darken it up a bit? We decided on darkening the Coco, I then applied the Paris Gray wash.

Too light. Then I applied the dark wax...

Still too light. I planned on being able to have this done for her in a week but it was taking much longer. I ended up having to leave mid project and run to a wedding out of town for a week.

She had a whole week to decide on where she wanted to go from there. She decided on Coco with just dark wax over the top- a beautiful neutral that will go well in her home. The dark waxing brings out the carving just right. I was so happy with the outcome and thrilled to be done after a month of working on it.

When using Etsy, I always go through Uship with items that are very heavy and are going far. I've had great luck with it and the prices are the lowest I can find. My favorite part is they pick it up at your home and drop it off at the new owners.

No such luck this time. The shipper said he'd be here in a day to pick it up, but he didn't call or show. We called, him he said the next day, and this went on and on for days. He never answered when we would call. I stayed home for 3 days expecting him each afternoon to pick it but no such luck. I finally had enough and ended up canceling my shipping bid and picking up another Uship bidder. Instead of this beautiful piece being on its way to Boston to a new home, it is sitting in my living room looking out of place. My client has been amazing and very understanding. Just a few days and this bad boy will be places I've never been so lucky to visit.

Linking back to...
linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com
kammyskorner.blogspot.com
threemangoseeds.blogspot.com
fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com
primitiveandproper.blogspot.com
www.bluecricketdesign.net
savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com
www.theshabbycreekcottage.com
southernlovely.blogspot.com
missmustardseed.com
romantichome.blogspot.com
funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com
tatertotsandjello.com
www.iheartnaptime.net
www.bystephanielynn.com

Spring Break

Today I am writing from one of my favorite places on earth... the home I grew up in. My husband is off of school for the week so we came to Utah for a wedding and to visit with friends and family. One thing I love about Utah is, one day it will be a blizzard with record high snow and two days later 65 degrees and sunny. I was in desperate need of fresh air and some adult conversation. I'm happy to report I have had both. Every morning I get to go out on a long walk with my three favorite dogs down the river and through the fields and trees. Nothing is more therapeutic than a walk with my boys. I bought movie tickets with my mom and sister for Hunger Games on Saturday, I can't remember the last movie I went to. My daughter is having the time of her life playing with all her cousins. She's getting some much-needed kid time.


Well, I haven't slacked off on my work too much while on vacation. I promised my mom for her birthday I would paint a few of her ancient pieces of furniture that are desperately ready for a new look. My dad thinks my style of furniture looks like it was dragged behind a truck, but I think even he likes the new look for his dresser :) J/K he is very supportive of me and helps me with my furniture needs all the time.



So here she is before. My parents told me that they bought her from an Estate Sale in Illinois when they were first married. They still use this to hold the T.V. in their bedroom.

I painted the dresser with my mom's choice of color. She is planning on repainting her room and giving it a much lighter and brighter look, so she chose Duck Egg Blue. You can't ever go wrong with that. The whole piece is covered in dark wax and lightly distressed (lightly for my dad). It has been finished off with faux crystal knobs.




I didn't have any of my usual tools from home and just planned on using my dads. He had this awesome buffer that just slipped onto his drill and worked amazing. Waxing and buffing is by far my least favorite part and it made buffing quick and breezy. It's less than 24 hours later and I've already bought one for myself.

I will be here for a few more days and will be painting an old marriage hope chest for my mom as well. I should be able to show you that on Sunday, so be sure to check it out. Here is a sneak peek at the before picture.




Linking back to...
missmustardseed.com
romantichome.blogspot.com
tatertotsandjello.com
funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com
www.iheartnaptime.net
www.bystephanielynn.com
www.skiptomylou.org
kammyskorner.blogspot.com
primitiveandproper.blogspot.com
savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com
southernlovely.blogspot.com
www.theshabbycreekcottage.com