from shabby to CHIC

Some DIY on vintage furniture can be quite rewarding.  I found a new product that is reminiscent of the metallic paints from the past I have come to know and love.  The painted metallic finish seems to fall out of favour every once in a while until someone creates something spectacular and the trend is back on.

I found this vintage piece at the thrift store and just knew I could turn it into something spectacular.  I wasn't exactly sure how but I was feeling pretty confident.

Before shots.

I took the time to sand it down with soft sanding blocks.  They were the perfect grit for the wood and they reached into awkward areas and the spindles were a piece of cake to sand.  A damp rag removes any sanding dust.

To make the painting process a little easier, I took the table apart and painted it in sections.
A good quality 2" bristle brush is essential.

It is also handy to have a smaller 1" brush for the tight spots.

This is the product I found at the local paint shop.  I found it easy to work with and even though it took several coats to cover the dark brown, I did not need to prime and the end result is spectacular.   What do you think?  I am now working on a stand-alone magazine rack.  Once I finish it, I will post more photos.

And the After shot.  I love it! 

Barbie, you're too KIND!

What a great way to start the year.  I bought a Barbie doll at a local thrift store.  I paid $2.  She was lovely, her left leg didn't bend properly but she was worth having.  She looked pretty old and wouldn't you know it Mattel stamped her info on her butt.   Made in Japan it said.  Copyright 1958.  Wow, I thought, should I do some further research?  I went onto one of my favorite vintage product research sites.  

Ebay, yes ebay has sold listings that you can research that can give you a pretty good idea what an item might be worth.  I had never sold anything on ebay so I thought what have I got to lose?  I only paid $2.  Well, as intimidating as the process was, I mustered up some entrepreneurial energy, took some photos and listed the fab barbie. I had her on for a minimum bid of $7 and I set my reserve at $120.  7 days later, she sold for $272.00 I was so excited.   As soon as those paypal funds cleared, I rushed to adobe.com and upgraded my Photoshop to the latest version.  Barbie paying for the entire upgrade.  Thanks again Barbie, you're too KIND!

Vases are sooo yesterday!

I'm always trying to think outside the box, in this case, the vase.  I never seem to have the right vase for those endless bouquets of flowers I receive (ahem, buy for myself, that is, lol).  Here are some ideas for alternative containers to put your flowers in.  I love them all.

An absolutely gorgeous vintage teapot with Gerberas, what a statement!

Vintage Silver teapot, what else would you use it for?

Copper teapot, on a wooden table, so Country Chic!

I struck Gold, okay Amber!

Vintage gold, I like to call it.  It's beautiful amber art glass, so collectible and so lovely.  I found these at a thrift store on Friday and had to share my finds.  I love them for serving pieces.  Next time I lay the table out, I will take more photos.  Vintage finds, I love them.

Oh no, I have MPD

MPD stands for Multiple Passions Disorder.  It is the clinical dx for any one who can't decide what they love to do most in life.  I am over 30, okay, way over 30, and I still don't know what I want to do when I grow up.  I love to create, craft, design, build, help, showcase, produce, redesign, rebuild and reproduce, oops, did I really say that?  I always know what "my bad" is but what is "my good"?  Maybe I will enlist the help of my blogging world friends.  I can showcase a new project every time I blog and get a vote, what do you think? Google Sari McNamee, go ahead, its pretty safe.  I love being an artist, I love selling my work around the world and making friends online with fellow art admirers.  I love creating for others, things like baby blankets and bibs and of course Mocha Mitts (more on those later).  I also love helping out with fundraising, for organizations such as my kids' school, the local hospital foundation, the Canadian Br. Cancer Foundation, among many others.  I love collecting vintage goodies, repurposing items and shopping at thrift stores. 

Maybe I am analyzing this way too much.

Maybe for now, I will just spread my wings, be curious and ride the wave. 

Until next time, when we discuss MFD.

Time to share the Vintage

I love junking like any other junkaholic.  I find it therapeutic to say the least.  I am sharing my love for the lovely by adding some photos here of the depression glass ware that I have found recently.  For my daughter's 16th birthday I gave her a set of 5 cups and saucers in pink depression ware.  So beautiful.

Aren't they just gorgeous?

Embroidering all DAY!

so i've been busy, I've been having too  much fun embroidering one thing after another.  The camera was handy (as usual) so I thought i'd share some of the photos with you.   Here I have my lovely vintage Farm Peppers piece chugging along.  It took 3 thread changes from the beginning and I think I worked on it for 2 days.  I know that sounds ridiculous but the stitch count was almost 70,000 and I just worked on changing threads between trips to the grocery store and running my elderly aunt out for groceries.

To the right is the finished product.  Isn't it just beautiful?

Next I have the lovely shopping bag I made with quilting patterns.  It turned out great and I can put it on the etsy market this week. 

Well, tomorrow I will show off some of the leather bracelets I made up.  I should really be spending time on the baby stuff for this weekend's Honeybee Festival at the Famous Honeybee Centre in beautiful Surrey, B.C.  I will have to take some pics of the organic cotton bibs I made up also, so stay tuned for that.