American Flag Coffee Table

This is a makeover that was pretty time consuming but at the end it was totally worth it.  I got this table about a month ago and it was in excellent condition and sturdy.  I had it just hang out and wasn't sure what to do with it.  I was thinking turquoise but that was so predictable, then I was thinking dark top and light bottom but then I've done that before. I let it sit around for about a week before I actually decided to do the American Flag, I have thought about the Union Jack but that's been popping up all over blog town everywhere and plus I'm American :)

I work pretty slow and I'm pretty meticulous but at the end it was all worth it...Here's what I had to work with.

It was in pretty good shape as you can see.  Then I took out my tape, ruler, and calculator and started measuring and dividing (that was fun for a math teacher like me).
Here I had already painted the blue box and started on the white stripes.  Don't you love my little mint plant hanging out by the patio door? Nothing like some middle eastern mint tea after dinner :)

Then I was busy busy busy for a few days and didn't take any further pictures till I was finished.  I mean seriously do you expect me to photograph each step? Once I'm into it I'm really into it and the camera is the last thing on my mind.....

I ended up giving it a rub down with some clear wax mixed with a gel stain.
So here's the after shots!

I didn't have any star stencils so I traced a star off the computer screen from google images.  I then transferred the star on card stock paper and cut it out with an exacto knife.  That's it I had my own homemade stencil :)

I really like how it turned out! I'll probably go ahead and give the top a poly coat for extra protection.

I love how the American flag and just country flags in general really go with any decor style.  Flags are truly timeless additions to any decor.

Please show some love and let me know what you think.... Any Americana projects on your to do list?

xoxo,

May

I'll be linking up to the following parties:

Photo Post: Vintage China

I've been busy busy busy refinishing furniture this past week and have tons of projects going on.  I actually found some awesome pieces on craigslist yesterday and they are happily hanging out in the garage.  I bought all of the pieces from the same girl and she had some great stuff around her house. I actually like her too and we got to chit chat about furniture and randomness. Don't you just love when you meet neat people that share snap shots of their life with you.  I believe you meet anyone and everyone for a reason. Anyway, these makeovers will be shared as soon as possible.

To take a break from all the brushes and waxes today I decided to take out my camera and shoot some of my vintage china.  I have a lot of china but not a lot of vintage china so I'm slowly increasing my collection.  I'm happy with how the pictures came out so here's some eye candy!

How about you guys? do you collect vintage china? or vintage anything for that matter? Would love to here from you.

xoxo,

May

Painted High Side Table/Entry Table

This table is another project from this weekend...notice I say "another" because it's surly not the last...I've been super busy painting this weekend and it was so much fun..

Anyway, this table is a Drexel Furniture high table.  The top was pretty scratched up so I stripped it...If only I knew how yucky stripping was, I would have just sanded away...There was a sticker on it that said "Property of US Government" which I though was charming so I went ahead and stuck it on the bottom in an effort to preserve it and protect it from the paint.  :) yeah I'm sentimental like that..

Here's the before! More masculine then the Queen Anne Table and the finish is too!

The top had a very thin layer of veneer so I stripped it to the wood...

 I painted it this blue color but kept the drawer and the top stained.

blurry but ok :)

I then gave the top another color wash in blue and some dark wax.

The height of this table makes it perfect for an entry way, and so does the drawer and the shelf.
So how do you like? Show some love!
xoxo,
May

I'm linking up to these parties:

Painted Queen Anne Table

This table is now truly fit for a princess! I love the outcome!
I got this table off of craigslist over a year ago and it has been sitting in my garage collecting dust.  I finally dug it out yesterday (actually hubby did the digging out) and I finally gave it a new life.

Here's this old school looking table before it's fabulous makeover.

Don't sneak in the background :) I was working on multiple projects this weekend!

Inside one of the drawers I found the company's stamp! It's a well known furniture manufacturer from back in the forties according to my humble research.. Researching "Boring" doesn't really yield positive results.

Well here's this beauty after some painted chipped nails and splattered clothes! I'm in love!

Look how curvy and feminine this piece is...

I painted the original hardware in this perfect gold paint...

The girls approve and couldn't stop touching it and playing with the drawers... I think this soft lavender is perfect for a feminine decor or a girl's room....
How do you like it?!

xoxo,
May

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Gossip Bench Makeover in "Duck Egg Blue"

I haven't blogged in a while now because I've been really busy.  I haven't had a chance to show you but I've been busy crocheting, busy visiting family in NJ, busy refinishing furniture, busy hunting down furniture, busy re-arranging furniture, and busy being a wife and mom.  I've been feeling quite productive lately and today especially since I got out and cleaned up a part of my front yard to get ready for spring.  The longer days make me happy :)  Anyway let's get down to business and let me show you my latest project.  I'm totally in love with it.

So exactly two weekends ago I landed an awesome gossip bench.  I've been on the search for one for a while now and I really thought it suitable for my foyer.  It was on craigslist so I contacted the seller and got it the next day.
I wanted to paint in in Annie Sloan's Duck Egg Blue but I honestly can't afford it at the rate that I paint furniture.  By all means I love it but it's just pricy so if price isn't an issue then go for it.  Anyway I searched blog land for inspiration and as always I learn something new.  I love blog land and how everyone is so willing to share information.  I came across Altard.com and found Annie Sloan color equivalents and was so happy.  Check out their post on Color Comparisons.  So my Duck Egg Blue in Behr paint was Gray Morning.  One trip to the Home Depot and I was set! I also bought Polished Pearl which is like the Old White because you can't go wrong with having it around.

Here's what I started out with (ignore the background and focus on the bench) working on my kitchen table.

 And here's my paint :) you won't believe that I only bought a sample for $3! Yay! Plus I only used half it it so $1.50 is a drop in the bucket compared to Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint.  I was so proud of myself.

Here's the result after the first coat!

While my final coat of paint was drying and I went ahead and popped my fabric in the washer and then dried it.  I bought a drop cloth canvas and used it to reupholster the seat.  Cheap and sturdy and french looking and this was inspired by a lot of projects in blog land but mainly by Miss Mustard Seed.  I love her blog and her house please be sure to check out all of her awesomeness I spend hours on her blog and I love it.  Seriously though who am I to give her a shout out when I'm such a young blogger I'm just giving credit where credit is due :)
Anyway here's the fabric.

Then after stapling my fabric to the seat I painted stripes on it using some burgundy/purplish oops paint.  Always nice to have oops paint on hand :)

Then a few hours later as this was drying I glazed the bench with a little bit of gold craft paint diluted in water.  It was so thin more of a wash and I glazed to add some sheen and gold accents then I'd wipe lightly with a cloth.  That made the blue more green so then I made another wash with the blue and went over the whole thing again. Then some sanding and distressing with a hand file and I was done.

A photo shoot was in order:

Don't you just love all the details?! I know I do.

It's total luck that my oops paint stripes match the hearts on my It's Good To Be Queen pillow :)
So this is it! Just a $1.50 worth of paint and this baby has been transformed and is sitting happily in the foyer.  Please share some love and let me know what you think.  Would love to hear from you!
xoxo,
May

I'm linking up to these parties: