Verdigris

Verdigris...

Ver... what, you ask? Let me give you a hint or two.

http://eclecticrevisited.com/2012/01/16/the-various-shades-of-gorgeous-green/patina-verdigris-door-green-antique-rustic-decor/

http://www.fauxology.com/2011/07/sense-of-patina-verdigris/

http://www.fauxology.com/2011/07/sense-of-patina-verdigris/

http://www.flickriver.com/groups/verdigrisandpatina/pool/interesting/

Verdigris: the common name for a green pigment obtained through the application of acetic acid to copper plates or the natural patina formed when copper, brass, or bronze is weathered and exposed to air or seawater over a period of time.

I just can't get enough verdigris in my life right now; it gave me the inspiration for my dresser I'm about to show you. I think this has to be my all time favorite piece thus far. I understand if you're not loving it, I think it's one of those things you'll either love or hate.

This beautiful patina just reminds me of beautiful old architecture, grand gardens by the ocean, and just an old European lifestyle (if you happened to be rich).

This past winter I had the chance to go to Miami on a getaway with my husband and daughter. I was so surprised at how much there was to see there. We went to Villa Vizcaya, which is a lovely old mansion, but unfortunately no pictures of the inside are allowed. It's right by the sea and it's built in the style of old European architecture. The outside has grand paved stone walkways with large statues, garden houses, acres of gardens, and water fountains, not to mention a large stone boat off the dock about right behind the home. The inside has the finest furniture, and all of it was purchased in Europe and shipped overseas. If you're ever in Miami, I highly recommend it.

Here are a few pictures of our trip- we didn't get the chance to take too many. I was loving every second of the tour but my two year old daughter didn't seem to be enjoying herself as much. You know how it goes.

I hope I've built up enough suspense now that you're dying to see my latest and greatest transformation.

How did I do this? I found a really helpful tutorial here. I'll write my own tutorial for this dresser soon (Update: here's my tutorial).

This dresser really got my creative and artistic juices flowing again since I feel like I just paint things white after white. Don't get me wrong an old out of date piece always looks amazing in a simple white. I just needed a little challenge and some change to mix things up!


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

Lovin the Hutch

I finished up a really neat hutch this week. I just love the shape of this piece and it already came with wire in it. It's the little things that make me happy. I painted it in Old White/Paris Grey and finished it off with some dark wax.

This week I've felt like a chicken running around with her head cut off. My hubby has been studying for his dental board exams that he's taking today. It's a pretty big deal. I feel like he's been non-existent while studying and I'm here fending for myself. I didn't realize how much I use his help until he's not here! Isn't that always the case? He picks up all my furniture for me and handles a ton of my business. I made it through all my work (mostly), laundry, cooking, cleaning, keep up with church jobs, and then some. We all know how much work it takes to keep our own little world running smoothly and on a routine.

Jenine

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

A Country Side Table

Here's a simple country style end table I finished painting yesterday. It was just your typical oak table that I found at a thrift store. I thought I could spruce it up with a hand painted top. I got the laurel wreath with PARIS typography from The Graphics Fairy, one of mine, and several other thousand people's favorite blog. Head on over if you've never seen it. Prepare to be amazed.


This beauty will be for sale in my Shop so be sure to check it out.


Jenine

Linking back to...
www.funkyjunkinteriors.net
romantichome.blogspot.com
graphicsfairy.blogspot.com
savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com

For A Special Little Girl

I don't know about you, but I can spend several hours looking on Etsy. The clothes, jewelry, art, and of course furniture are just some of my favorites. I was asked to paint a dresser similar in style to one in the shop Tracey's Fancy. If you haven't seen her work, you should definitely check it out. She does tons of crazy cool furniture and it almost always has handpainted designs and bright colors. I was honored to be asked to paint something to look like hers. Why ask me and not the girls at Tracey's? She is booked out for custom painting for 16 weeks! That would stress me out. Clearly everyone loves her to-die-for designs.

Here is where my client got her inspiration. This dresser is for a baby girl on the way so naturally the colors chosen were a classic pink and ivory. I painted the whole thing with Old White chalk paint first, then used Henrietta (with Old White mixed in to lighten it up) to paint on the designs and accents. I hate to copy someone else's work, so my husband and I quickly made up our own monogram design for the sides of the dresser.

I sure hope she likes it, or I'll have to find someone else who is having a baby girl starting with the letter F :)

Jenine

Linking back to...
romantichome.blogspot.com
missmustardseed.com
www.funkyjunkinteriors.net
www.bystephanielynn.com
linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com
kammyskorner.blogspot.com
fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com
primitiveandproper.blogspot.com
savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com

Cottage Chic Nightstands

This week feels like I just can't get anything right. I must be off my game or something after vacation. I have been working on two nightstand for what feel like months since I took a break right in the middle of doing them. These nightstand came from one of the hotel casinos here in Vegas. I'm sure back in their day they were awesome but now they're saying 'tacky Vegas' look. I was fortunate to be asked to give them a new look. The top has been painted black and then silver leafed. If you have questions about silver leafing visit my tutorial here. The body of the nightstands were painted Old White and dark waxed. They were lightly distressed. I applied resin appliques to add a little something to the plain doors. Unfortunately the appliques were a little smaller than needed, so I will be applying larger ones. We'll see what its like to remove an applique, wish me luck.

I have some good news and bad news. I wasn't able to get a cheap enough shipping quote for my last armoire that I custom painted. It took about 3 weeks to get the quote to a price my client needed, and by then it was too late :( The good news is it is for sale!! Yay! Be sure to check out my shop page if you're in need of an already painted and finished armoire. Also, check back on Thursday, I'll be showing off a beautiful pink dresser that I'm painting for a new baby girl.

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

Chair and Nightstand

What I'd give for a piece of grass. Have you noticed how lame my backgrounds are? Here in Las Vegas grass is a luxury. I refuse to have the fake astro turf that I see everywhere. When we moved into our home it had no landscaping whatsoever in the backyard. We have since built a deck, a brick retaining wall, and planted some strange buffalo grass that's supposed to be amazing for desert climate. Well, it has yet to look amazing, and until then you're stuck with lame backgrounds :)

You might have caught my last post with a similar white nightstand. White is always a wise way to go. I especially like a clean white look when there are busy carving going on.

Do you recognize this chair? It has had many looks but finally found a home. When I first got it, it was painted black, then I painted it a brick red to go with a nautical desk I refinished. Poor chair, no one wanted it. I was repainting it again and was worried the black and red underneath would look horrible with ASCP Provence. I decided I'd paint it white first and gently distress it to just show the white. I went too far in one spot and loved it. Thank heavens for mistakes. Speaking of mistakes. I finished painting and reupholstering the chair and asked my hubby if he'd screw the seat in. He decided to test the chair by sitting in it and wiggling back and forth to test it's durability. I kept telling him to stop messing around and knock it off. Somehow, he ended up breaking a leg off it while screwing the seat in. Go figure. I had to explain the situation to my client and tell her I'd find a new chair for her. Luckily she still loved it and with some wood glue and a very reduced price it's fixed! I guess it will just be for looking at and not for sitting :) Oh and be sure to check out my shop page by clicking the link at the top of my blog, I just updated it with some exciting new pieces!

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

Basic Refinishing Tutorial

We made it safely back from our many vacations. Disneyland must be where the saying, "it was the best of times and the worst of times" comes from. One second my daughter was filled with overjoyed excitement and the next she was screaming, kicking, and biting because she didn't want to wait her turn in line.

I was hoping to show at least one of the four projects I have going on right now, but I have had some technical difficulties. I ran out of dark wax and have been waiting for it anxiously in the mail. I just need to wax a few small appliqués to go on two nightstands I have painted and silver leafed, then they will be all ready to go.

I painted another all white carved nightstand that turned out lovely. I will be showing that by tomorrow. I also painted a chair and asked my dear husband to screw the seat on, but without fail he managed to break it. We'll see if it makes it after that, I'm currently shopping for a new chair. I'm that confident.

Right before our little break, I started reupholstering an antique replica couch and loveseat for my own home. I've got the loveseat done and I'm on to the couch, so stay tuned for those too.

Since I don't have any finished projects to really show, I felt I should take the time to go over some basic refinishing steps for redoing your own furniture. I will go over steps for both using latex paint and chalk paint since it differs quite a bit. Like I said this is for basic refinishing, no fancy techniques yet.