From Drabby to Shabby: Roll Top Desk

Here is my latest furniture makeover. 

Remember this roll top desk? 

 She's a great piece, just not my style. 

I saw her potential.  

I wasn't sure how difficult painting her would be. But I turned to my trusty Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (ASCP)in Paris Gray and started painting. A few hours later...here is how she turned out.

And the inside....

I painted the brass drawer pulls with Rustoleum Dark Bronze spray paint. I also thought it would be fun to paint the inside of the drawers in ASCP Duck Egg blue. 

And distressed.

I just adore her and all her shabby-chic glory.

My only dilemma now is do I keep her or do I sell her (gasp!)?

Annie Sloan Paint Workshop

Since moving to the 'burbs almost 3 years ago, my love for refurbishing and painting vintage furniture has grown, partly by chance but mostly by necessity. I gravitate towards shabby-chic/french country home decor which almost always includes painted furniture. After "winging it" for 2 years and pretending to know how to refurbish furniture and accessories, I decided to invest in my new found hobby. Last weekend I attended an Annie Sloan Paint Workshop. And I have to say that it was the best decision I have made in a while. 

I had no idea what to expect and honestly was terrified that I would be walking into a slew of other women who paint furniture and such things as a profession and thought that I had no business being there as an amateur. Well I was totally wrong. There were beginners, intermediate and professionals amongst me. 

When I arrived, the conference center lobby was decorated with all sorts of painted furniture.

 I had to remind myself that I was not in a store and that I was at a workshop because I immediately went into "shop mode".

These pieces were clearly displayed to inspire!

And also showcased all the different things you can do with 
Annie Sloan chalk paint.

Annie Sloan herself gave a talk in the morning for 2 hours on how she started painting, how her chalk paint product came about as well a lesson on "color". It was very interesting. Then we broke out into smaller groups and did some hands painting and learned all that chalk paint was capable of.

We painted a bunch of sample pieces using different techniques.
 

This workshop was WELL worth the time and money. 

Check out the dork in the photo below. Please, please keep in mind that I had only arrived back to the US from our trip to Italy 48 hours prior. I was running on adrenaline at this point, minimal make-up, and started off that morning at 6:45AM reading 2 Clifford books to my niece. Hey, I take my Aunt responsibilities very seriously!

Needless to say, I left the workshop totally pumped to paint and immediately started to repaint my corner cabinet that I realized I had painted COMPLETELY WRONG! Opps! 
More to come on that...stay tuned!







 

Inventory

Inventory [in-vuhn-tawr-ee] noun:
A complete listing of merchandise or stock on hand that is cluttering up every corner in the 'burbs.

***
Inventory have been piling up in the 'burbs. Since the Fall I have been accumulating things to revamp and paint for Spring. I don't have a work-space in our basement (yet) so I am limited to working outside these days. Which you would think I would be doing a lot of lately with this mild weather we have been having. But I haven't. Let me explain....

I signed up to take an Annie Sloan paint workshop this Spring. For those of you who are not on a first-names basis with Annie, she's the creator of "chalk paint" (not chalkboard paint). Chalkpaint is paint that can be applied to just about any type of surface (metal, wood, laminate, etc) without the use of primer or doing any prep. It's extremely versatile paint and can be used in several different ways to achieve different "looks". I am taking this class to learn more about the different paint techniques...which I plan on using on my inventory. 

Speaking of...here is my inventory. I am slightly mortified at the photos I am about to share with you. 

I don't normally live in such clutter. 

I swear.

 

(1) Shelf - purchased at a garage sale, (2) Windowpane I snagged from my in-laws shed - thanks!, (3) Chair, hiding behind windowpane. This is my diamond in the rough and LONG over-due to be refurbished. 

(1) 2 chairs I pulled from my neighbors curb trash pile...apparently this is legal in the 'burbs provided you ask said neighbor first!, (2) Bright green dresser - purchased at a garage sale for practically nothing.

There are several signs around my neighborhood advertising garage sales in the 'burbs this weekend. I may have to drag the husbo around with me on Saturday morning. 

 
Have a great weekend!

 

 

Bored In The 'Burbs

October has been a busy month in the 'burbs. So I am thoroughly enjoying spending this rainy Saturday indoors. I've made progress on the "fab $5 find" chair - but will share 

more about on that later. 

I was a bit bored after fiddling with my $5 chair project, and I was dying to test out my Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (ASCP) on something small before I paint my dining room furniture with it. I was worried about the Duck Egg blue being too blue. So when I came across this $4 wood frame at Michael's, I knew this was the perfect way to test the paint. I modeled this painted frame after the fabulous Sugarbooo frames that I just ADORE. 

In case you can't ready my free-hand script, it says, "Learn from yesterday, Live for today, Hope for tomorrow". 

I finished the frame with the Annie Sloan dark wax 

which gave not only toned down the blue paint, but also gave it a rustic look. What do you think?